United States Of Al
Season 2 M-Net (*101) 19:00 Comedy
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an all-too-real condition that soldiers around the world deal with thanks to the atrocities of war that they’re forced to experience. And it’s also a theme in comedy series United States Of Al, with Parker Young (Miles in drama series A Million Little Things) as US Marine vet Riley and South African-born Adhir Kalyan (Timmy in comedy series Rules Of Engagement) as his translator Al. “We’ve been careful to treat PTSD with the sort of respect it deserves because soldiers don’t go to war because they feel like it – it’s their duty,” says Parker.
For the show, the creators contacted US War Veterans Associations and spoke to real-life Marines living with PTSD – and it was an eye-opened for Parker. “When you think of PTSD, you think of someone waking up to any loud bang and thinking they’re back in war. But it’s a lot more complex than that – and there are so many different manifestations for the condition.” Adhir adds that “we’ve had some great insight from actual PTSD survivors who’re still having trouble years after coming home. They’re having difficulty reintegrating into civilian life and it’s because of their PTSD that goes largely ignored.”
As for Riley and Al in the show, the two characters are both dealing with the stress disorder and they come to an important realisation this fortnight. “You have to accept that you’re not okay and that you need help,” says Adhir. “That’s the first step in recovery and getting treatment – you need to own your situation if you’re going to deal with your demons. You can’t sit around twiddling your thumbs hoping that it’s going to magically disappear… because that’s not how it works. You need to get help if you’re going to be okay and it’s not an easy thing to accept.”